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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be panic stricken over DH and BIL buying kayacs to take 6 month old DS out on?!*

54 replies

MoominMarvelous · 19/03/2008 10:26

DH seems o think I am! MIL / FIL own a holiday home by the sea and suggested buying a boat for family outings. Seemed like a great idea and I was well up for it and had visions of us all singing 'row row row your boat' as we went off for little adventures in the boat together with DS sat on my knee.

The boat idea has now morphed into buying two sit on kayaks that take up to three people which they reckon will be more 'fun'. I am petrified! Maybe I am being unreasonable but I feel the safety risks associated with kayaking far outweigh those of being in a 'standard' boat. But to be fair I don't know much about it.

Any thoughts anyone?!*

FYI I am taking DS to learn how to swim on a 10 week course starting in April. But he's only 6 months old!!!!!!!! I can feel the panic welling up again just thinking about it. But don't want to be a party pooper

OP posts:
belgo · 19/03/2008 10:28

I wouldn't be happy about that.

RosaIsRed · 19/03/2008 10:29

My initial reaction would be the same as yours. But I have never done kayaking, only sailing - sea kayaking imo seems akin to sailing in a boat similar to a laser, which you expect to capsize every now and again so not at all suitable for a baby or small child. Are they experienced kayakers?

CoteDAzur · 19/03/2008 10:30

Noooooo.

AngharadGoldenhand · 19/03/2008 10:30

YANBU.

What about waiting until ds can swim?

snowleopard · 19/03/2008 10:31

Will you be there too? That would make a big difference for me, knowing I'm a strong swimmer.

Firstly, I know nowt about kayaking but try googling to see if you can find any organisations associated with it and see if they have any advice about children kayaking, minimum ages, safety etc, or phone them and ask them, and then you will have the official line to present to DH.

If they think it's OK, I think you can let it happen and not party poop, if you tell DH you have some concerns and conditions - eg - DS must have suitable flotation device on, you must be there, kayak must not go far from shore, and not at all if water is very choppy or cold. Or, say you are not happy and you want to reconsider the idea of a safer boat. You're his mum - you have at least 50% say about his safety IMO.

rosybud · 19/03/2008 10:31

No way, they capsize very easily. It would be a non-starter for me. Noooooooooooo

moondog · 19/03/2008 10:33

Christ no way.
I am a very strong swimmer but also very fearful of water.
We spend a lot of time abroad with dh's job and I have created many a scene in various vessels by insisting on seeing the life jackets and getting them on the kids before we even go.

Surfermum · 19/03/2008 10:34

I took dd on BILs boat when she was a few weeks old. It was fine but I remember hating the bit when we transferred from the dinghy to the boat at the mooring.

It was about 4 years before I would take her again. I just couldn't do it. He thought I was party pooper too, but a small boat and a toddler just didn't mix for me, I would have wanted to sit and hold her all the time and would have been scared to take my eyes off her.

The sea is cold, only really getting warm around Aug/Sept. I would worry about capsizing and the little one getting too cold. What if a wave hit you and you were all thrown into the water, or the kayak hit you on the head.

Not something I'd do (and dh and I are beach lifeguards), I'm with you on this one.

talkingmongoose · 19/03/2008 10:34

yanbu.

MehgaLegs · 19/03/2008 10:36

YANBU - I am terrible for thinking of the worse casr scenario but what if your DH was knocked unconcious?

I wouldn't want my child in a boat until he could swim.

CatIsSleepy · 19/03/2008 10:37

eek
I wouldn't do it, even when your ds can swim
the prospect of plunging a baby into freezing cold water when one of these things capsizes would outweigh any possible idea of fun for me

crokky · 19/03/2008 10:38

YANBU. Save it til he is old enough to enjoy it and swim properly. It is totally inappropriate for a 6 month old baby. Send DH and BIL on kayaking on their own.

LedodgyCheapEasterEggsAreASin · 19/03/2008 10:38

No I won't let dc's go kayacking on the river Dee with us until they are at least 7 and confident with their swimming and that's much calmer than the sea, well until a speedboat goes past!

Dp and fil think i'm being a spoilsport about this but fil is as mad as a box of frogs and dp is going the same way. grin]

belgo · 19/03/2008 10:39

they will have far more fun going kayaking on their own rather then with a baby!

TwoFirTreesToday · 19/03/2008 10:59

I would be worried that it would give my baby a phobia about water! YANBU!

dramaqueen · 19/03/2008 11:09

My dc have been on small boats since they were about 6 months old BUT they were with me and had the most advanced life jackets / bouyancy aids you could get.

However no way would I let them out on a kayak at that age on the sea though.

DoodleToYou · 19/03/2008 11:12

Message withdrawn

TheApprentice · 19/03/2008 11:16

Hi. We have a sit on kayak and it is great fun. Dh cannot wait to take ds out on it. However, we have agreed that he will not do so until he can swim/is at an age when he can follow instructions etc in case of capsize (incidentally sit on kayaks are much more stable than the other kinds), so probably at about 4. Ds is currently 15 months so theres a way to go!

spicemonster · 19/03/2008 11:16

No way would I take a baby on a kayak on the sea. As others have said, they do capsize really easily which is fine for adults as they're easy to right (if you know what you're doing) but even if the baby was well strapped in, they'd get far too cold and it would be very dangerous.

My DS ended up in hospital because he got chilled to the bone so I know what I'm talking about

snorkle · 19/03/2008 11:32

we went kayacing down the Ardeche in France last summer. I think the minimum age they would allow was 8. Most of it was very easy with just a few low grade 'rapids' - nothing like as rough as the sea.

Flibbertyjibbet · 19/03/2008 11:40

Noooooo way!
Il's have a hoiday home 200 yards from the deepest lake in England. I won't even let ds's stay there without us as FIL can't swim, and there is a handy little jetty to make sure that any child will fall straight into deep water and not just fall over paddling....

So FIL has got a canoe and since ds1 was 6m has been talking about taking him out in it. They just can't understand why I think FIL should not only learn to swim first but also do a life saving course AND do a canoeing course where they teach you how to get out of it if it flips over.

I still won't let him take my boys out but he can dream.

Why do they thing I am being awkward???? FIL seems to think that if the canoe flips he will just 'get back in'.

No No No No No No. I used to be a club swimmer and even I wouldn't take either of my ds's out in a kayak; swimming in the sea is hard and cold without having to worry about saving some one else too.

KerryMum · 19/03/2008 11:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jumpingbeans · 19/03/2008 11:43

Hell no, these things are fun but NOT for lo's of that age - i spent my whole time getting back on the bloody thing on holiday

belcantavinissima · 19/03/2008 11:44

i think they are utterly irresponsibly bonkers so no yanbu at all

TheDuchyEggOfNorksBride · 19/03/2008 11:52

No way, the sea has currents even on calm days. Even if he's in a life jacket, you may not be able to hang onto the child if he's swept away when the kayak flips over. Which from what I've seen, they do quite a lot!

I'd worry about the amount of sea/river water he'd swallow too. Urgh!

Stick to your guns girl, the men will have to lump it.

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